Vireo olivaceus

The Red-eyed Vireo, like many of the vireos, is
often high in the tree tops. They are probably heard more often than seen,
although they can be one of the most numerous birds in forests of the eastern
United States. Males will often sing their song repeatedly and nonstop for
hours at a time, leading to their nickname of the "preacher
bird".

Habitat: Uses
deciduous and mixed forest during the summer breeding season, although they can
also occasionally be found in conifer forests. Within these habitats, they
are most often found along forest edges and clearings. They also are
sometimes found in isolated prairie groves.

Diet: Primarily feeds on insects, especially during the summer
months. Will also feed on berries and small fruits.

Behavior: Moves through foliage both by climbing
through branches and foliage or by making short flights and hovering,
capturing insects both while perched or hovering.

Nesting: June and July. The nest of a
Red-eyed Vireo is a small cut built of grasses, bark strips, weed stems,
small rootlets, and spider webs, placed in the fork of a small branch.
The female lays between 3 and 5 eggs, and she alone incubates them.
When the eggs hatch, both parents help tend to the young, who leave the nest
after about 12 days.